A cross-sectional study exploring mental health literacy among non-athlete personnel in elite-level road cycling

BACKGROUND: Elite-level athletes, including professional road cyclists, may be vulnerable to psychiatric disorders, yet help-seeking and care pathways are often impeded by stigma and budgetary constraints. Although sports psychiatry is a growing subdiscipline, mental health initiatives in elite-level road cycling remain limited, possibly leaving coaches and non-athlete personnel ill-equipped to support affected athletes and staff. Consequently, understanding mental health literacy levels among these stakeholders could help identify knowledge gaps and shape future interventions. METHODS: This study explored mental health literacy in non-athlete stakeholders (leadership, management, medical, support, and technical personnel) from men's and women's elite-level road cycling teams, including Union Cycliste Internationale WorldTeams, ProTeams, and national teams. An online survey collected self-reported demographic data, bespoke items on general mental health awareness, and responses to the validated 35-item Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS), which assesses six literacy dimensions. RESULTS: n = 181 participants (75.1% male/24.3% female/0.6% undisclosed) reported lower mental health literacy (M: 122.80 ± 12.50) than sporting and general population benchmarks. While 97.2% acknowledged the importance of mental health for performance and wellbeing, approximately one-quarter (n = 47) felt inadequately informed, and nearly a third (n = 59) reported limited support in their teams. Variations were observed across demographic and role-related variables, warranting further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health literacy among non-athlete stakeholders in elite-level cycling appeared comparatively lower than in other sports, underpinned by knowledge gaps. However, participants consistently supported educational initiatives, potentially reinforcing the importance of tailored schemes to address existing shortcomings and promote healthier, more sustainable competitive environments.